Bishop 'pragmatic' on brothels

LONDON -- The Roman Catholic bishop of Portsmouth, England, insisting it's time to "be realistic," has thrown his support behind a campaign to legalize brothels even as he insists he is not condoning prostitution itself.

Bishop Crispian Hollis added his support to a unanimous but controversial vote by more than 200 chapters of the highly respected Women's Institute organization in favor of getting brothels licensed by local governments to protect prostitutes.

"If you are going to take a pragmatic view and say prostitution happens," Hollis explained to journalists, "I think there's a need to make sure it's as well-regulated as possible for the health of people involved--and for the safety of the ladies themselves."

"That's not to say I approve of prostitution in any way," he insisted.

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